NAVAIR Officials Leverage Roadmaps to Align Innovation Across Industry Organizations, Government and Suppliers
NAVAIR Using Vision Strategist to Drive Science & Technology Strategy
Carlsbad, California - January 26, 2006 - The NAVAIR Science and Technology Office is working on ways to identify new innovations, and has created a Science & Technology roadmap with Alignent's Vision Strategist roadmapping database to encourage continued technology investments, supplier collaboration and improved decision-making about the future.
By supporting the Program Executive Office for Air ASW, Assault, and Special Mission Programs (PEO(A)) in developing S&T roadmaps for rotorcraft and vertical lift aviation platforms and systems, NAVAIR S&T aims to provide a focused, long-range roadmap to continually increase the visibility and impact of investment in crucial rotorcraft areas. Through roadmapping, NAVAIR S&T also strives to align the services, agencies and industry toward present and future naval aviation goals and objectives.
According to Lt. Col. Steve Waugh, Deputy PEO(A) for U.S. Marine Corps operations, NAVAIR seeks to "link developing technologies with programmatic windows of opportunity" through roadmapping. This linking will enable officials to leverage investment, improve transition rates, and increase the impact of new technologies.
Currently, over 200 technologies are being tracked within Alignent's Vision Strategist roadmapping database, including 60 Phase III projects under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, according to Dr. Suresh Verma, head of S&T strategic planning at NAVAIR.
NAVAIR is looking to validate technology roadmaps, and assess potential solutions in the context of technology maturity, migration timelines, and end-user platforms. NAVAIR officials are especially interested in evaluating capability gaps and related technology developments in the areas of performance, survivability, interoperability, safety, operations and support, according to a recent NAVAIR Technology and Intelligence Office Public Affairs press release (January 3, 2006).
Given that requests for S&T funding are highly scrutinized against competing needs, and justifications and various options must be presented accurately, the process of matching these valid capability gaps with multiple developing and future technologies is a major task. As a result, Dr. Michael Richman, Associate Director for Aerospace Technology in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, stressed the continued need at a December 2005 naval aviation science and technology workshop for technology roadmaps that identify goals, transition timelines, investment options and impacts of alternative technologies.
By using Vision Strategist roadmapping software, "individual roadmap 'owners' are able to maintain the currency of their technology plans, establish permissions for data access, and link their roadmaps to related projects" with an explicit understanding of the potential impact to their programs, according to the NAVAIR press release. Through the process of roadmapping, "stakeholders are immediately notified of scheduling or funding changes that might force an adjustment to their programs."
"We're encouraged that many of our major suppliers, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, are already using the Vision Strategist tool," said Dr. Verma. "Linking industry and government technology developments through a dynamic database of joint, platform, and system-level capability roadmaps is a sure way to maximize available S&T investment, and speed the transition of much-needed technologies."
Over the past summer, NAVAIR conducted a roadmapping pilot project, which used Vision Strategist roadmaps to "tie capability requirements to technology solutions for several naval aviation platforms and systems," the press release stated. Vision Strategist roadmaps are now playing an important role in NAVAIR's strategic planning process, enabling officials to act on windows of opportunity and carefully review investment options. They are providing NAVAIR with the improved ability to align technology investments with government agencies, industry and suppliers.
Information in this press release was provided by the January 3, 2006 NAVAIR press release "Naval aviation officials host rotorcraft and vertical lift technology workshop." View the press release online at: http://pao.navair.navy.mil/press_releases/
About Alignent Software
Alignent Software, a leader in strategic roadmapping solutions, enables innovation in complex R&D environments, providing enterprises with the vision to map and synchronize emerging products, technologies and markets to create future opportunities. Leading Fortune 500 companies and governmental organizations are using Alignent's Vision Strategist roadmapping software to structure the innovation process, align research with business strategy, and visualize the future possibilities for innovation before resources and investments are made.
Alignent Software is based in Carlsbad, California. Alignent Software was recently noted by Fortune Magazine as an "Innovator to Watch." For more information, visit us on the web at:
www.alignent.com.
All product names are the trademarks, service marks, or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
